The Federal Government has initiated Mpox vaccination in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), marking the start of a nationwide campaign to curb the disease. The rollout was confirmed by Rufai Garba, Director of Disease Control and Immunisation at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).
Speaking on Monday, Garba revealed that vaccination in other states would begin soon, once the logistical requirements for transporting the vaccines under controlled conditions are met. “We have started in Abuja today. For the states, we need to ensure proper handling of the vaccines before distribution,” he explained.
The NPHCDA had earlier announced in October that seven states, alongside the FCT, were prioritized for this exercise. These states include Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, and Benue. An estimated 631 individuals in each of these areas are expected to receive two doses of the Mpox vaccine.
This initiative comes after Nigeria secured 10,000 doses of the Mpox vaccine, of which 1,000 were donated to Rwanda. Dr. Muyi Aina, the Executive Director of NPHCDA, emphasized that while there is currently no outbreak in Nigeria, the vaccination effort is precautionary. “Our focus is on frontline health workers and residents in communities close to outbreak-prone areas,” Aina stated.
The campaign aims to strengthen Nigeria’s public health defense and mitigate potential future risks. Authorities are urging eligible populations to participate in the vaccination as it becomes available in their respective states.
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